Author Archives: tech

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH WILDLIFE INVADERS IN YOUR YARD? I have been asked many times how to deal with wildlife that make our backyards their homes. Many people look on deer, raccoons and armadillos as unwelcome visitors. Squirrels, possums … Continued

WILDLIFE COLORS CAN BE FASCINATING Color, which plays an important role in the lives of some plants and animals, frequently tells an environmental story and offers us opportunities to ponder the ecology and behavior of wildlife. Camouflage is common among … Continued

STARLINGS ARE UNPOPULAR INVADERS Great efforts have been made to curtail the introduction of exotic species into the wild. One reason is because some become too successful, threatening the well-being of native species. Many plants and animals introduced into the … Continued

WHAT CAUSES BURLS ON TREES? I recently received the following questions about plants. Q. Can you tell me what could have made lumps on the trunk of a tree my wife and I found in the Smokies? The lumps range … Continued

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU MET A TAPIR IN THE JUNGLE? I received the following email from my grandson Parker who was on a field trip in Central America: “While walking a trail in Belize after dark, a member … Continued

SEA OTTERS HAVE MANY GOOD QUALITIES Q. You once said diamondback terrapins were your favorite turtle. What is your favorite mammal? A. Tough question, because all puppies and kittens, indeed most baby mammals, are engaging. But sea otters qualify for … Continued

WHAT ARE THE STEPS TOWARD EXTINCTION? Almost everyone knows about the American alligator. But did you know we also have an American crocodile? The species is native to coastal areas of peninsular Florida. Its full geographic range includes Central America, … Continued

SOLENODONS ARE VENOMOUS MAMMALS Q. I heard that an extinct mammal in the Dominican Republic injected venom to subdue its prey like some snakes, spiders and scorpions do. Is that true? A. Yes, except it’s not extinct. Two species of … Continued

COULD AN EAGLE CARRY OFF A CHILD? A while ago a YouTube video made the rounds that purported to show an eagle swooping down from the skies and carrying off a small child. (Further evidence, if it’s needed, that not … Continued

CAN AN ELECTRIC KILL A PERSON? A recent email inquiring if an electric eel can kill a person jolted my memory and I recalled an encounter I wrote about several years ago. I was 11 years old, behind the scenes … Continued